ETA on the SL2-S firmware update?

[KateStarr]

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Have there been any updates regarding when we can expect the massive firmware update for the SL2-S that was promised at launch? The last I saw was "Spring 2021" but I wondered if anyone has heard or seen an updated (and hopefully more specific) timeframe.

Cheers.

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[Slender]

Spring start 21st march :)..... and ends 21st June 😅

The on and off communication about SL2 (not s) firmware showed us we need to be patient while it cooks... and for us SL2 owners we might have to wait even more 🙄

[KateStarr]

Ha! Good point about the start of spring...I guess I'm just eager to see how substantial the improvements are. I'm on the fence about getting an SL2-S (I'm an M user) and have told myself I should wait until the firmware comes out to make my decision.

[LD_50]

2 hours ago, KateStarr said:

Ha! Good point about the start of spring...I guess I'm just eager to see how substantial the improvements are. I'm on the fence about getting an SL2-S (I'm an M user) and have told myself I should wait until the firmware comes out to make my decision.

I would test the SL2-S as is to see if it’s worth it to you now, if you’ve not done so already. 

Has anyone shot with a Panasonic S5 and compared to an SL2/SL2-S? The improvements described for the S5 sound promising and I’m hoping are the same as what is coming to the SL2-S. 
 

S5 upgrades as described by DPReview:

“AF improvements on the S5 fall into two general categories: better and faster recognition of subjects (using deep learning technology) and improvements to the way DFD calculations are made.

To start, the S5 includes a head-detection algorithm in addition to face, eye and body recognition, so that the camera is less likely to struggle when a subject turns away from the camera. Additionally, it can now detect a face that takes up as little as 2.5% of the frame, versus 5% on other S-series cameras. Other tweaks allow the S5 to make autofocus calculations 60 times a second for bodies and faces, whereas the company's other models do so at 12 and 30 calculations a second, respectively.”

[Slender]

11 hours ago, KateStarr said:

Ha! Good point about the start of spring...I guess I'm just eager to see how substantial the improvements are. I'm on the fence about getting an SL2-S (I'm an M user) and have told myself I should wait until the firmware comes out to make my decision.

The firmware update would be "massive" for video use primarly... so even as of now if your prime interest for the camera is to shoot video it is more than a "step-up" from a videoless M camera.

Do you want it as a replacement of your M10 or as a companion with video talent (primarly or on the side)? Because if you want to use it with M-Lenses it is more than ready as it is now for both domains.

But yeah, you can wait if your concern is video, that wont hurt as much as the wait for the SL2(not s) owners 🤐
 

PS: If anybody wants a great video focussed camera compatible with M and L lenses, cheaper than SL2s, they should consider the Lumix S1H. Free atomos ninja included with it for a few days left (at CVP in the UK and surely elsewhere in the world)

 

[Pedrocolonia]

Firmware update should be available by April for SL2-S and by May for SL2.

Regards

Peter

 

[KateStarr]

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Thank you, Peter. That's helpful!

[LD_50]

1 hour ago, Pedrocolonia said:

Firmware update should be available by April for SL2-S and by May for SL2.

Regards

Peter

 

Is there a source available for this information?

[KateStarr]

@Slender I'm definitely not looking for a body to replace my M. I'm a stills shooter only, so video isn't a consideration for me. I'm primarily a Sony shooter, but last summer, when I found myself in a creative rut, I challenged myself to shoot with only my M9-P for a month and I've pretty much been shooting with only the M9 since. Part of what I love about the M9 is it's limitations - they force me to approach my photography in a different - and refreshing - way. I also love the small size which I've found works really well for me as a "always have on me" everyday camera. That said, I wish I could shoot that camera above iso 800 and find that I leave the camera behind when the forecast calls for any sort of precipitation, which is not uncommon where I live (Minnesota).

I've just decided to upgrade to the M10-R (after renting it for a week and falling in love) and am now curious about adding an SL2-S to use with my M glass. I figure the SL2-S gives me even better weather sealing, excellent low light capability, and an EVF for when the rangefinder is challenging to use. I'd also have the option of adding L-mount glass later if I wanted an AF experience or if I were tempted to make the switch from Sony.

I've never tried an SL body before, so I have no idea what to expect other than what I hear from others. Based on what I've heard and my experience with the Sony system, I'm worried the AF will feel too sluggish, but I don't know. That might just be a matter of changing how I use the camera. If I'm not shooting on a tripod, I pretty much have my Sony's set to lock-on AF-C and use the tracking to hold focus while I compose.

Long story short - you're right. The changes likely aren't going to turn the SL2-S into a Sony all of a sudden, so I should probably just rent an SL2/S body now and see how I get on with it and whether or not I'm comfortable with the difference in approach between the two cameras.

[Slender]

2 hours ago, KateStarr said:

The changes likely aren't going to turn the SL2-S into a Sony all of a sudden, so I should probably just rent an SL2/S body now and see how I get on with it and whether or not I'm comfortable with the difference in approach between the two cameras.

If you had the opportunity to rent like for the M10, then yeah your Leica dealer should let you do so. I don't think nothing can replace a M camera, ever, but the SL2 platfrom is awfully capable and charming.

Just a quick note about weather sealing: M lenses and M to L adapter are not gasketed, do keep that in mind for extreme weather shooting . I did fogged up an M camera plus lenses after shooting for a whole night in a hurricane -was very fun actually-... luckaly no electronics suffered (it was a M4 lol) but after leaving the kit to dry out on a radiator everything was fine. L lenses (and sigma/panasonic) are weather sealed. But unless you really are looking for trouble, M lenses are fine most of the time under the rain.

[Aaron Daniel]

Bumping this thread

Would love to know if anyone's heard about an ETA and/or features being implemented in the next update! I noticed that the Forum admins have just released a survey for us to complete that asks our thoughts about potential firmware updates, along with a payment/subscription model for updates (which I personally would not like 👀)

[geotrupede]

I typically shoot with a M9 Monochrom. The SL2S gets really close. It is the incredible ISO performance that manages to avoid the blotched colour conversion at high ISO (when the blue channel starts being cloudy). I can barely tell the difference. It was not the case with an M240 or earlier models so I would recommend it for sure. 

The high ISO is so good that you can easily use 6400 and 1/1000 with f16 in overcast condition, for point and shoot fast street stuff. Plus many frames per second. In summary it is a real beast.  

About colour, I like them a lot. Very nice, warm, golden. Vibrant. A pleasure to look at in the viewfinder and on the computer screen. 

I miss the PC synch from the SL first series but the M is also without it, so not a terrible issue.

The SL2S is large and heavy, the M feels like a toy which is a nice thing, easier to handle to me. But one can get used. M lenses are small so the whole package is not too bad.

Focusing with the magnifier works for me, I believe there is a bug in the interface and you cannot change shutter speed and zoom ratio at the same time which is a little issue. Maybe the bug is just on my camera and maybe it is me the issue : )

G.

 

[LD_50]

1 hour ago, Aaron Daniel said:

Bumping this thread

Would love to know if anyone's heard about an ETA and/or features being implemented in the next update! I noticed that the Forum admins have just released a survey for us to complete that asks our thoughts about potential firmware updates, along with a payment/subscription model for updates (which I personally would not like 👀)

I like the idea of paid firmware updates if they are feature updates/additions and not bug fixes. This seems a more feasible business model than doing constant hardware upgrades (like Sony) now that hardware is so mature and  changes are going to see diminishing returns. 

[hansvons]

 1 hour ago, Aaron Daniel said:

Bumping this thread

Would love to know if anyone's heard about an ETA and/or features being implemented in the next update! I noticed that the Forum admins have just released a survey for us to complete that asks our thoughts about potential firmware updates, along with a payment/subscription model for updates (which I personally would not like 👀)

I can't comment on ETA regarding the upcoming firmware nor the features. But a subscription model has advantages on many levels. There are already camera manufacturers offering such a model with their products; Arri's Alexa camera family and Sony's Venice come to my mind.

• The buyer can customise the camera to her/his needs. In the SL2-S case, a stills photographer who doesn't need the video features would pay less than a videographer who wants RAW via HDMI or ProRes444 internally. Similar examples are 4:3 anamorphic modes or special features such as the 96MP mode only commercial product photographers wish to have. 
• On the developer's side, cash-flow is more reliable and evenly spread throughout a product lifespan, leading to better R&D.
• the price tag on features can correlate with the expended effort and demand

The only downside I can see is the psychological problem: conventional ownership is cheaper, which is, in reality, not accurate - at least not in my experience.

Edited March 24, 2021 by hansvons

[Photoworks]

After see n the FOTOS app disaster I am not so confident in Leica software. Some functionality too over a year to get fixed.

And lets not talk about the frustrating tether application for the Mac that we had to use before capture one. That is still buggy.

I am still waiting for firmware bug fixes on the SL2. It seams that in the last update months and months ago the just implemented the changes they planed when the camera came out and forgot about the bugs. It is a very Corporate schedule , I like to see bug fixes more often.

I would suggest looking at Panasonic firmware frequency , they are doing something correct.

 

[beewee]

I would recommend everyone fill out this survey from Leica to voice their dislike about the lack of prompt bug fixes and half working promised features. I’ve filled it myself and I think if more people voice their displeasure, Leica will hopefully take notice.

[MediaFotografie]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb beewee:

I would recommend everyone fill out this survey from Leica to voice their dislike about the lack of prompt bug fixes and half working promised features. I’ve filled it myself and I think if more people voice their displeasure, Leica will hopefully take notice.

thank you vor this hunt - just did it 

but what do you mean by  „half working promised featurs“? They promised high res multishot for the SL2 and we got it, it works  very good. For the SL2-S they promised more things in the spring 2021 - which is just 5 days old, so I don‘t see a problem here.

[beewee]

8 minutes ago, MediaFotografie said:

but what do you mean by  „half working promised featurs“?

Geotagging is probably the best example. It was promised with the SL2 and has been unreliable at best and completely non-functional at other times. The same was true for the SL2-S until most recently someone discovered that you had to factory reset the camera and it started working with the latest app. But it still was less than ideal in that sometimes the camera doesn’t get updates from the phone and you’d have to unlock the phone to get position info again.

Edited March 25, 2021 by beewee

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[LocalHero1953]

I don't want to pay extra for features that are promised as part of the camera's capability but not included at launch. And if Leica wishes to sell or rent Fotos then my money will stay in my pocket.

[Simone_DF]

10 hours ago, LD_50 said:

I like the idea of paid firmware updates if they are feature updates/additions and not bug fixes. This seems a more feasible business model than doing constant hardware upgrades (like Sony) now that hardware is so mature and  changes are going to see diminishing returns. 

Except Sony also gives some great firmware updates for free, as does everyone else. For example the A7III 3.0 firmware update implemented Real-time Eye AF for animals out of the blue. It was not a promised feature, it was brand new.

Edited March 25, 2021 by Simone_DF